Window operator with improved track



Nov. 22, 1960 D. H. MUNRO WINDOW OPERATOR WITH IMPROVED TRACK Filed Nov.12, 1957 IN V EN TOR. 00/1/1440 AC All/N20 United States Patent WINDOWOPERATOR WITH IMPROVED TRACK Donald H. Munro, Pasadena, Calif., assignorto Parlyn, Inc., Monterey Park, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaFiled Nov. 12, 1957, Ser. No. 695,689

Claims. (Cl. 268-109) The present invention relates to improvements inwindow openers.

The present invention has particular applicability to mechanisms foroperating windows of the type which are hinged on a supporting frame orpar-t of a building structure. Usually such windows are opened andclosed by an arm which is attached to the free end of the pivotewindowand which is operated by a conventional crank mechanism mounted on thewindow frame. The character of the connection between the arm and thefree end of the pivoted Window is usually one in which a small roller onthe end of the arm moves in a track mounted along an edge of the window.Since the range of movement of the window from open to closed positionis relatively large, such actuating arm has some flexibility, so thatthe arm may flex somewhat when the window is being moved to ditferentpivoted positions. Such flexing of the actuating arm, which is usuallynecessary, may give rise to difliculties in continued operation and, inparticular, causes greater frictional forces to be developed between thewindow track and the cooperating roller on the free end of the actuatingarm, so that greater forces are required to be developed to move theWindow to open and closed positions.

In accordance with the present invention, a window may be pivotedthrough relatively large angles without flexing of the actuating arm andwith the application of relatively small energy. This is accomplished ingeneral by providing a slotted tube on the window frame with acooperating bearing block slidably mounted in the tube and attached tothe free end of the actuating arm, and by allowing such slotted guidetube to rotate about its axis.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved connection between a pivoted window and the mechanism forpivoting such window to open and closed positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedoperating mechanism for pivoted windows that avoids the necessity offlexing an actuating arm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmechanism for operating windows that develops relatively smallfrictional forces so that the window may be opened and closed easily.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. This inventionitself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the free end of a pivoted window having the novelactuating mechanism mounted thereon in accordance with the features ofthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken generally on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and alsoshows the mechanism in two different operating positions.

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Figure 3 is a perspective view showing some of the elements alsoillustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an end view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1.

The drawings illustrate a conventional window 10 which is pivotallymounted on a window frame or supporting structure by conventional means(not shown). Figure 1 shows the free end of such pivoted window.

The mechanism for pivoting such window 10 comprises generally a slottedguide tube 11, a cylindrical bearing block 12 slidably mounted in thetube 11 and an actuating arm 13 which is attached to such bearing block12.

The tube 11 is rotatably supported at its opposite ends on a pair ofspecially formed brackets 15 and 16, such brackets or supports 15, 16being secured to the outer edge of the window 10 by fastening means suchas machine bolts 17 that are threaded into the metal window 10. Thesesupports or brackets 15, 16 each have corresponding cylindrical portions15A and 16A that extend into corresponding opposite ends of the tube 11so as to allow the tube 11 to freely rotate on the same. Substantiallongitudinal movement of the tube 11 is, however, prevented byengagement of the opposite ends of the tube 11 with the enlargedportions 15B and 16B, respectively, of supports 15 and 16.

Prior to assembly of the tube 11 on such supports 15 and 16, thecylindrical guide block 12 with the actuating arm 13 attached thereto isfirst disposed within the tube 11 with a portion of such bearing blockextending through the slotted opening in the tube 11, as shown in Figure5. The tube 11 may be slotted along its entire length, or the slottedportion therein may extend from one end of the tube to a region close tothe other end. The actuating arm 13 is pivo-tally supported on thebearing block 12, and for this purpose there may be provided, forexample, the special form of rivet 20'which has its head disposed in theundercut and chamfered portion 12A (Figure 3) of the bearing block, theother end of the rivet 20 being upset to retain the actuating arm 13 insuch a manner that the free end of the actuating arm 13 may pivot withrespect to the bearing block 12.

This bearing block 12 is generally cylindrical with the cylindricalportion thereof being slightly less than the diameter of the guide tube11 so as to provide relatively large bearing surface which coacts withthe inside of the guide tube 11. Such bearing block 12 has integrallyformed therewith a generally rectangular base portion 12B which extendsthrough the slotted opening of the guide tube 11 and cooperates with thespaced edges of the guide tube 11, as shown in Figure 1, so as toprevent turning of the bearing block 12 about the axis of the tube 11.

The actuating arm 13 is actuated by conventional mechanism (not shown)mounted on the frame on which the window 19 is pivoted. Such mechanismmay be of conventional type which incorporates a handle rotatable by anoperator to pivot the arm 13 to different positions illustrated inFigure 2.

It will be observed, upon movement of the actuating arm 13 to thepositions illustrated in Figure 2, the hearing block 12 slides in thetube 11 and also the tube 11 rotates about its axis on the supports 15and 16. Due to the fact that the tube 11 is free to rotate about itsaxis, there is substantially no flexure in the actuating arm 13; hence,it is not necessary to provide a flexible actuating arm; andfurthermore, by this arrangement frictional forces areminimized and thewindow may be opened and closed with comparative case.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it will be obvious to those. skilled in the. artvthatchanges and modifications may be-rnade without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the. aim in theappended claims is to "cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithinthe true spirit andscope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A window having a pair of supports secured in spaced relationship onone edge thereof, a slotted tube, means rotatably mounting said tube onsaid supports for rotation about the axis of said tube, avbearing blockslidably mounted in said tube and having a portion thereof extendingthrough the slotted portion of said tube, and an actuating arm pivotedon said bearing block, said slotted tube extending substantially thefull width of said window. i

2. A window actuating mechanism for opening and closing a windowcomprising, a pair of supports for attachment to a window, a tube, meansrotatably mounting said tube on said supports for rotation about theaxis of said tube, said tube being slotted, a bearing block slidablymounted in said tube and having a portion extending through said slottedtube, and an actuating arm attached to said bearing block, said slottedtube extending substantially the full width of said window.

3. A window actuating mechanism for opening and closing a windowcomprising, a slotted tube extending substantially the full width ofsaid window, a bearing block slidably mounted in said tube and having aportion extending through the slotted portion of the tube and anactuating arm pivoted on said bearing block, means for rotatablysupporting said tube on said window for rotation about the axis of saidtube.

4. A window actu ating .mechanisrn for opening and closing a windowcomprising, .a slotted ttube extending substantially the full width ofsaid window, means for attachment to a windowvfor rotatab'ly supportingsaid tube about its axis, a bearing block slidably mounted in said tubeand having a portion thereof extending through the slotted portion ofthe tube for engagingsaid tube to rotate it about its axis.

5. A window operating mechanism for opening and closing a windowcomprising, an elongated guide extending substantially the full width-ofsaid window, means for attachment to a window for rotatably supportingsaid guide about its longitudinal axis, a bearing block slidably mountedon said guide, and an actuating arm pivoted on said bearing blockcooperating with said guide to produce rotation on said means when saidactuating arm is operated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS961,565 Wilkins June 14, 1910 1,198,144 ORourke Sept. 12, 1916 2,811,349Bondurant et al. Oct. 29, 1957

